Repeat C section and I'm freaking out.......

With my first I was 6 days overdue and it ended in an emergency c section because the pitocin was causing my babies heart beat to drop and I wasn't progressing

Now I'm having a repeat c section because they say my pelvis is really small and it's not likely my babies can fit out through my vagina.

My c section is scheduled for 39 weeks, I'm nervous because I have read a lot of stuff about your body experiencing labor being good for the baby and helping it's lungs and other parts of the body prepare to enter the real world. Is it bad to get my baby out before he is done "cooking" Is wet lung a common thing cause by this? or any other side effects I should be aware of?

I'm in no means a completly natural type girl, but I don't want to put my baby in danger and make things harder for him If I can help it.

Comments (12)

My ODS was born via csection due to being footling breech. My water broke naturally, but I never had contractions or went into active labor. He was extremely healthy when he was born, and he is a super healthy toddler who has never had any health issues, and hasn't been ill in almost a year. Good luck with your rcs- I have one scheduled on 3-26. :)

I just had my son via RCS this past Tuesday at 39 weeks. I was super nervous but I just had to remind myself, how does my worrying help? It really didn't. The csection was way better than my first and I wish you luck on yours. Try to relax and get ready to meet that cutie of yours!

im having mine on Monday and im a nervous wreck! my DD was born at 32 weeks by emergency csection and was taken to the NICU right away and spent 29 days there.... this is HOPEFULLY going to be a way different experience, but I'm more worried about my recovery then anything! Ur Dr wouldn't do a csection if he didnt feel the baby was ready :)

If you're certain about your dates, I wouldn't worry about 39 weeks. If it does bother you, maybe you could ask for a couple more days. My last 3 came about 39 weeks, just a tad smaller than my first 3 that made it all the way to 40. CS babies don't get the squeeze so they may be a little juicy, but good patting usually helps that. Better than breathing in maconium, which can happen in labor. There are some things you're avoiding with a RCS, so don't feel bad.

I would strongly suggest looking into a VBAC. If the baby can't fit thru your pelvis during labor, they can always do a c/s at that point. Why jump to a c/s before you even know whether or not you can do it? According to Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, having a baby that is too big to fit thru the birth canal is rare. It is a common excuse that Drs give patients when they just would rather do a c/s, because c/s are more convenient for Drs.

There are a bunch of risks involved with c/s to both the mother and the baby. Fluid in the lungs is common in babies born by c/s - it is a common cause of NICU stays.

Despite what anyone, including the Dr says, you can change your mind on a c/s anytime before you enter the OR to have it done. You could decide that morning that you do not want it - you have the right to refuse the c/s.

Keep in mind there are also some risks to attempting a VBAC, some hospitals won't even do them. From what I hear a rcs is easier as you aren't worn out from any contractions, and instead of the epi you have a spinal.
Did your doctor give you a choice at all about attempting a VBAC? I hope you've had some time to evaluate before this weekend, but if you made that decision, go back to the reasons you chose a rcs and try to be confident that you made the best choice for YOU.

My first was a C-section and he didnt have any breathing problems! The squeezing of the baby through the canal is said to remove the liquid from the lungs, but mine seemed to do ok without that. They just suctioned him right away and he was fine. Good luck!

(BTW- I am having a RCS for the same reason- narrow hips and a very large baby head. I went through all natural labor with my first and was pushing for 3 hours, and they said he just wasnt fitting through the hips. They could feel me push him down, and then he would pop back up all the way. He ended up all bruised because of the pushing and was wedged/stuck in my hips. I am fairly petite and my 1st had a 96 percentile head size.. So it does happen! This one's head is measuring even bigger too!)